The Importance and the effects of Sacrament of Confirmation on the Life of a Christian

Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. Through Confirmation, our personal relationship with Christ is strengthened. We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service.

The Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord to assist us in our mission and witness. The impact of these gifts accompanies us in the various stages of our spiritual development.
As the confirmed, we walk with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom enables us to see the world from God’s viewpoint, which can help us come to grasp the purpose and plan of God. It grants us the long-range view of history, examining the present in the light of the past and the mystery of the future. It saves us from the illusion that the spirit of the times is our only guide. The Spirit’s gift of knowledge directs us to a contemplation, or thoughtful reflection, of the mystery of God The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as well as of the mysteries of the Catholic faith. We are drawn to meditative prayer, where we allow God to lead us while we rest patiently in the divine presence.

The gift of understanding stimulates us to work on knowing ourselves as part of our growth in knowing God. It is what St. Augustine meant when he prayed, “That I may know you, may I know myself.” When the Spirit pours fortitude or courage into our hearts, we can trust that we will be prepared to stand up for Christ and the Gospel when challenged. As the gift of counsel or right judgment grows in us, we can sense the quiet teaching that the Spirit gives us about our moral lives and the training of our consciences.
The gift of piety or reverence is an act of respect for the Father who created us, for Jesus who saved us, and for the Spirit who is sanctifying us. We learn reverence for God and people from our parents and others who train us in virtue. The Spirit fills us with this gift at liturgy, which is a masterful school of reverence, as well as through popular devotions and piety.
Finally, the gift of fear of the Lord or wonder and awe in God’s presence can infuse honesty into our relationship with God, a frankness that places us in awe before the majesty of God. Yet the gift also imparts an attitude of grateful wonder that God loves us and that we can share in his life.
When we are responsive to the grace of Confirmation and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, we begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit. The tradition of the Church names twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity (Gal 5:22).

Confirmation is so important in the Catholic Church because teenager/adults receive the Holy Spirit and become "soldiers of Christ" as full members of the Church. The Catholic Church sees the confirmation as a rite in which grace falls over the person as they announce their commitment to God and the Church. It is worthy to know that there is nothing like infant confirmation. Confirmation is the second rite of Sacrament; it is the culmination of what began at a person’s baptism. It is intended to show a person taking responsibility for what they believe in and professing it to the church, friends and family. Before Confirmation, our spiritual life is like that of a child, and is largely self-centered. We tend to be preoccupied with our own needs. We cannot be self-centered if we understand what it means to be a member of Christ's Mystical Body. When we are Confirmed we receive special graces by which our faith is strengthened, so
that it will be strong enough not only for our own needs but for the needs of others with whom we try to share it.

With the onset of adolescence a child begins to assume the responsibilities of adulthood. He begins to see his place in the total family picture and in the community.

Similarly, the Confirmed Christian begins to see more clearly his responsibility to Christ for his neighbor. He becomes deeply concerned (or ought to) with the welfare of Christ-in-the-world—which is the Church—and the welfare of his neighbor. The Confirmed Christian—whether we call him a spiritual soldier or a spiritual adult—goes forth joyfully in the fulfillment of his vocation.

Strong in his faith and with love for others which stems from his love for Christ, he feels a continual concern for others. He wants to do something worthwhile for others, something to ease their burdens and make more secure their promise of life eternal. His words and his actions proclaim to those around him: "Christ lives, and He lives for you"!

The grace to do this is the grace which Jesus promised to His Apostles (and to us) when He said: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses for me . . . even to the very ends of the earth" (Acts 1:. It is virtue of confirmation.

From ancient times, olive oil has been looked upon as a strengthening substance. Athletes were accustomed to bathing in olive oil before taking part in athletic contests. The significance of the holy oils used in the administering the sacraments represents the strengthening effect of God's grace.

Besides the distinct and special blessing which each holy oil receives, chrism has another difference; balm has been mixed with it. Balm is a fragrant substance obtained from the balsam tree. The holy chrism symbolizes the "sweet odor" of virtue. It tells of the spiritual fragrance, the attractiveness that should characterize the life of the person who puts his Confirmation graces to work.

Thanks,
This assignment was written by: Kingsley, Phil Ehimare; in fulfillment of his confirmation class as requested by Rev. Fr. Melvis Mayaki.